Casting-machine.



No. 65l,430. Patentad lune l2, I900.

G. C. WEBSTER.

CASTING MACHINE.

(Application filed. May 9, 1899.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shaet l.

wwnesses: Invent-01':

No. 651,430. Patented lune l2, I900.

C. C. WEBSTER.

CASTING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 9, 1899) (No Model.) 8 Shady-Sheet 2.

7 Ma WM Q m: mums PETERS co., mom-union WASHINGTON. n. c"

Patented .Iune l2, i900.

No. 65l,430.

C. C. WEBSTER.

CASTING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 9, 1899.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W-lrnesses:

No. 65!,430. 1 Patented lune I2, I900.

C. C. WEBSTER. 1

CASTING MACHINE. (Application filed May 9. 1599. (No Model.) 8 Sheots$heet 4.

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(Application filed May 9, 1899.)

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Patented lune I2, I900.

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C. C. WEBSTER.

CASTING MACHINE.

(Applicationfiled May 9, 1899.)

No. 65l,430.

(No Model.)

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6 WM flwiwvu- No. 65|,430. Patented June 12, I900. C. C. WEBSTER. 1

CASTING MACHINE.

(Application filed May-.9, 1899.) (No Model.) 8 Shaets-Sheet 7.

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No. 651,430. Patented June l2, I900. c. c. WEBSTER.

CASTING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 9, 1899.) (No Model.)

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framework of the machine in cross section.

NIiTEn STATES ovens o. wEnsrEn-m MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CASTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,430, dated June 12,- 1200.

Application filed May 9, 1899. Serial No. 716,162. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CYRUS G. WEBSTER, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented an Improvement in Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in casting-machines, the object being to provide means i or casting molten lead or other metals or substances into continuous strips with a minimum amount of labor and expense.

It will be obvious to the expert that my device is primarily intended for the treatment of those metals which, like lead, fuse at a relatively-low temperature. The art of casting such metal strips as now practicedconsists in pouring the molten metal into the ends of molds, and it is found practicable to cast only comparatively-short strips in any single mold, and these strips are usually defective and full of flaws.

My invention is designed to cast the metal into continuous flawless strips, needing a minimum amount of hand and machine labor to finish them. The product of the casting-machine is thus improved in quality and increased in quantity, while the cost of production is reduced.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the casting-machine used with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of Fig. 1 shown in central cross-section. Fig. 3isafrontviewofthemold,showing a portion of the framework in cross-section. Fig. 4 is an end view of the casting-machine, showing the molding frame broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the casting-machine, shown partly in section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the molding-frame, showing the gate-block of the crucible incross-section. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the gate-block. Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9is a perspective view of the extractor. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of an alternate construction of mycastingmachine, parts being broken away or shown in section to more fully illustrate the construction. Fig. 11 is a front view of the molding-frame used in the alternate construct-ion, showing a detail portion of the tric cam. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the bolts 13, showing the eccentric shank. Fig. 16 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 17 is a plan view of the alternate construc tion.

In the following specification where the word front is used it is applied to those surfaces nearest the crucible, and the word :rear indicates those surfaces nearest the belt end of the machine.

' In the drawings, let A represent my improved metal-casting apparatus, B the mold, and C the furnace. The casting device B consists of the frame 2, which is circular in form and provided with flanges 3, which are mounted upon the framework 4' by means of bolts 5. The frame 2 is substantially an annular shell, within which is located the revo' luble mold D, which is sectional in construction and composed of open disks 19 and 27, which are eccentrically arranged, as hereinafter described. The plate 6, having the hollow hub 7 extending toward the rearward portion of the machine, is provided with an annular flange 8, which is fastened to the front face of said plate by means of screws 9 and is revolubly mounted in the shell by means of bearing-rollers 10, which project through the openings 11 of the shell and are journaled to the flanges 12 by means of'loolts 13. To the rearward face of the plate 6 is fastened the gear-wheel 14' by means of bolts 15. Laterallyand movablyextendingthrough the opening 16 of the hub'and plate dis the shaft 17, upon the end 18 of which and adjacent the plate 6 is mounted at a driving fit the disk-plate 19, which is provided with the annular hub 20, extending forward. Upon the outer circumference of the hub the eecentric cam 21 is mounted, having the radially-projecting arm 22, the end of which is adjustably fastened to the shell 2 by .means of the bolt 23, passing through the slot'2el. The outer circumference of the cam 21 is eccentric to the shaft, and upon this face is mounted the open disk 27, having the beveled face 28, which is also eccentric to the shaft. This disk is positioned with its rear face covering a portion of the mold-cavity E, as shown in Fig. 3, and is operatively connected to the plate 19 by means of the bolt 30, passing through the slot 31. The moldcavityE is a groove bounded by the inner face of the flange 8, the front face of the disk 6, the outer face of the plate 19, and the rear face of the disk 27. The inner face of the flange 8 and the outer face of the plate 19 are relatively eccentric, the object being to free the cast metal from the mold-cavity by widening the groove E towardthe place of egress K. To adjust the eccentricity of the inner face of the flange 8, the bolts 13, upon which the bearing-rolls are mounted, are provided with the eccentric shanks 32. These bolts are held in position by means of the set-bolts 33. To hold the parts of the mold-frame B laterally in position, the bearing-rollers 34 and 35 are provided. These rollers are journaled upon the yoke-frames 36 by means of the eccentric-shank bolts 37 of ordinary construction, which are fastened in position by means of theset-bolts 38 and 39. The yokeframes 36 are fastened to the shell 2 by means of bolts 40. The bearing-rollers 34 and 35 bear, respectively, against the rear face of the gear-wheel and the front face of the disk 27.

The shaft 17 is journaled to the framework of the machine A by the bearings 41 and 42, which are fastened to the framework 4 by means of the bolts 43. It is thus evident that the parts of the frame D forming the mold are revoluble. This frame is operated by means of the gears 44 and 45,which are mounted upon shaft 17. The gear 45 meshes with the driving-pinion 46, which is mounted upon the driving-shaft 47, carrying the belt-pulley 48. A counter-shaft 49 is used, which is journaled upon the bearing 50 and provided with the pinions 51 and 52,which respectively mesh with gears 44 and 14. i It is thus evident that the plates 6, 19, and 27 are adapted to revolve at equal speed. It is obvious that the moldframe may be operated by any suitable driving means.

The heater G, in which the crude lead or other material is melted, consists of the following parts: the framework 4, provided with the trackway 53, upon which is movably mounted the carriage 54, having the screw 55 and the hand-wheel 56, by which the carriage is operated. The crucible F is mounted upon the carriage 54 and consists of the receptacle 57 for containing the molten lead or other metal, which is provided with a force-pump 58,0fordinaryconstruction,havingaconnecting passage-way 59, leading from the pump to the valve-chamber 60 and thence through the passage-way 61 into the crucible. The

rod 63 of the piston 62 is placed vertically above the well of the pump and slidably mounted in the yoke 64, which is fastened to the frame of the crucible by means of bolts The upper end of the piston-rod 63 extends above the yoke 64 and is provided with the head 67, between which and the yoke is an expansion-spring 68 for carrying the piston to the superior position, as shown in Fig. 2. The piston is provided with the handle 69, which passes freely through the opening 70 in the piston-rod 63 and is journaled to the frame 65 by means of the pin 71.

Inserted in the passage-ways leading from the crucible to the pump is the double valve 73, which is provided with the shank 74, extending into the receptacle 57 and connected with the operating-handle 75.

To the portion of the framework 65 extendin g toward the mold is fastened the gateblock G by means of screws 76, into which the valve-chamber 60 extends. The gateblock contains the ingate 7 7, which is adapted to register with the mold-cavity E when the furnace is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the valve 78 is thrown forward, so as to close the in gate 77, the valve 79 is unseated, thus throwing the passage-ways 61 and 59 into communication and connecting the receptacle 57 with the pump 58. The molten metal thus flows by gravitation through said passageways into the pump. The valves 79 and 78, being reversed in position, as shown in Fig. 2, respectively close the passageway 61 and open the ingate 77, so as to communicate with the passage-way 59. The pump, when operated by means of the handle 69, forces the molten metal through the passageway 59 and valvechamber 60 and injects the molten metal through the ingate 77 into the annular mold-cavity E.

The face 80 of the gate-block coincides with the face 28 of the mold-frame, while the face 81 of the block coincides with the front face of the flange 8. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) This arrangement permits the closing of the opening to the mold-cavity lying between the ingate 77 and the point of contact of the disk 27 and the annular flange 8. The mold-cavity is closed from the ingate to the place indicated by the numeral 82, where the outer edge 29 of the disk 27 intersects the moldcavity when the frame D is revolving.

The stop 83 for the mold-cavity is fastened by screws84 to the gate-block. The le gth and width of the stop correspond with the depth and width of the moldcavity. The purpose of the stop is to dam the lower end of the mold-cavity. The edge 85 of the stop is substantially in alinement with and adjacent to the ingate, as shown in Fig. 7. This edge is notched at 86 for the purpose of holding a portion of the molten metal, and the metal so held together with the stop itself, which is heated by the flame from the burner when the machine is in operation, retains enough heat to prevent a stoppage of the flow through the ingate by too rapid solidification of the molten metal.

The mold-frame when in operation is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow at a constant and suitable speed, so as to cool and solidify the molten metal that is injected into the mold.

The metal solidified asa strip is ejected from the mold-cavity by means of the ejector H, which is a blade corresponding in thickness and shape, respectively, to the width and curvature of the mold-cavity. This ejector is fastened to the frame 2 by means of the clip 87 and bolt 88. It is thus evident that the ejector is stationary. The blade is formed with the inclined edge 89, which extends from the face of the mold-cavity (indicated by the numeral 90) to the outer edge of the moldcavity adjacent the clip.

The molded strip is carried from the machine by any suitable means (not shown) and rolled upon spools or cut into lengths. The thickness of the mold-cavity may be adjusted by turning the bolts 32 so as to increase or diminish the eccentricity of the flange.

The crucible is heated by the furnace I, which may be any suitable burner or furnace. As shown in Fig. 1, the burner 91 is connected with the gasolene-tank 92.

The receptacle is provided with the shield 93, which is fastened to the frame 54 by means of screws 94, for confining the flame of the burner.

The gas-burners 95 and 96 are mounted upon the hanger .97, which is fastened to the frame 2 by means of the bolt 98. These burners heat the gate-block and the mold-frame, so that the molten metal will not cool too rapidly. The pipe 99 leads to the source of gassupply from the burners.

In the alternate constructions shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 the mold-frame and carriage 100 are mounted on the trackway 101 of the frame and carried to and from the heater by means of the worm-gear and screw 102 and hand-wheel 103, which are of ordinary construction. The mold-frame D is constructed of the open disks 104 and 105 and the ejector J. The disk 104 is formed with the flange 106, to which is fastened the ring 107 by means of screws 108. The inner face of this ring forms one side of the mold-cavity E. The outer'circumference of the disk 105 forms the opposite side of the mold-cavity. To the rear face of the disk 104 is bolted the gear 109, which meshes with the driving-pinion 110, mounted on the main driving-shaftlll. This shaft carries the belt-pulley 112. The disk 104 is formed with the hub 113, which is jou'rnaled on the hub 114 of the ejector J. The disk 105 is formed with the hub 118, which is mounted upon and carried by the shaft 115. The ejector J is substantially an open disk 119, the hub 114 of which is journaled on the shaft 115 and fastened to the frame of the carriage by key 117. To the circumference of the ejector is fastened by means of screws the tapering blade 121, with the edge 122 inclined to the mold-cavity and gradually diminishing the groove.

Now, returning to the mold-cavity, which extends only a short distance upon the circumference of the disks, we have seen that two of its sides are formed by the revolving ring and disk, respectively, 107 and 105. The third side of the cavity is formed by the back block 123, which is fastened to the extractor by means of screws 124 and provided with the stop 125 acting as a dam, as in the preferred construction. The fourth side of the cavity is'formed by the face 127 of the gate-block G. These third and fourth sides of the cavity are opposite and parallel to each other and extend a corresponding distance upon the circumference of the groove sufficient to permit the solidification of the molten metal. The molten metal is injected through the ingate 126 into the mold-cavity directly over. the stop 125. In this construction the face 127 is plain and in alinement with the front face of the plate 105. The disks 104 and 105 are held from lateral movement by means of bearing rolls, which are similar in construction to those already described. The inclined edge of the ejector,which is stationary, commences, as indicated by the numeral 128, at the point of termination of the gate and back blocks at the end of the mold-cavity and extends until reaching the point 129 at the top or outer edge of the groove, at which point the metal strip leaves the groove when the machine is operated. The disk 105 is revolved at equal speed with the disk 104 by means of the shaft 115, which is provided with the gear 130, meshing with the pinion 131, mounted on the shaft 111.

The furnace consists of the fire-box 132, having the chimney 133 and the crucible or retort 134, which is air-tight. The crucible has the cover 135 tightly bolted or otherwise fastened thereto. The crude metal is placed in the crucible through the opening and melted by the heat from the furnace and the molten metal then ejected through the ingate 126 by means of continuous pressure, which is provided by an air-compressor (not shown) leading through the pipe 136 to the crucible. The ingate registers with the cavity when the carriage is thrown forward and connects with the retort by the passage 137 and is opened and closed by means of the valve 138, having the operating-handle 139.

In operating my improved machine the crude metal or other material is .placed in the crucible and reduced to a molten state by the heater. Pressure is then applied to the molten metal by means of the air-compressor and the valve controlling the ingate opened. The ingate is brought into communication with the mold-cavity by turning the hand-wheel, and the metal flows into the cavity. The moldframe D is rotated in the direction of the arrow at a suitable speed by the gearing, which is connected by the belt-pulley to a source of power. Sufficient heat is applied to the gateblock and moldrframe by the burners which are located below them to retard cooling until the casting is complete. The injected metal solidifies into a strip before reaching the opening K, at which place the ejector H removes the strip from the groove. The cast strip is then passed or carried from the machine, either by hand or machine, as desired, for future use.

For cleaning the machine the furnace and mold-frame may be moved apart by turning the hand-wheel.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Acasting-machine, consisting in combination with a frame having a mold-cavity, of a valve-controlled ingate registering with said cavity, a dam positioned in said cavity adjacent to said ingate; said dam and ingate being separable from said frame, and means for revolving said frame, for the purposes specifled.

2. A casting-machine, consisting in combination with a frame suitably journaled and having an annular mold-cavity Within and lying broadside toward the center of said frame, of an ingate registering with said cavity, a dam positioned in said cavity adjacent to said ingate; said dam and ingate being separable from said frame, an ejector having an' inclined face passing out of said mold-cavity, and means for continuously revolving said frame. l

3. Acasting-machine, consisting ofa frame suitably journaled, having an annular moldcavity, positioned broadside toward the center of said frame and within the same, an ingate registering with said cavity at its edge, a notched dam adjoining said ingate and positioned in said cavity; said ingate and dam being mounted on a movable and indepen dent frame, an ejector having an inclined face in said cavity and the driving mechanism for revolving said frame, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

4:. The combination of a frame, having a mold-cavity E and consisting of plates independentlyjournaled upon a su pporting-frame and provided with mold-faces and so combined and arranged as to form said mold-cavity, of guides for holding said plates longitudinally, drive mechanism for revolving said plates, a crucible having an ingate registering with said cavity, a notched dam adjacent to said ingate and positioned in said cavity, a stationary ejector H, a heater for said crucible and means forinjecting the molten metal into said cavity; said ingate and dam being movable upon a stationary frame, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

5. A strip-metal-casting machine, consisting of a crucible, a heater for the same, an ingate-block,a dam and an injector arranged in combination with a mold-frame, having an annular mold-cavity within and positioned edgewise toward the front and back of said frame; said cavity being of tapering thickness lengthwise, an ejector in said cavity and the drive mechanism for said frame; said ingate-block and dam being so arranged as respectively to register with and intercept said cavity at its place of least thickness,as shown, and for the purposes specified.

6. Amold-frame D, forming a mold-cavity, mechanism for adjusting said frame so as to vary the size of said cavity, an ejector arranged in the cavity and means for driving said frame, in combination with a crucible having a heater for the same, an injector adjoining the mold-cavity, an ingate and a dam; said ingate and dam being movably mounted upon a stationary frame, and adjacent to said mold-cavity.

7. A frame having a tapering mold-cavity therein, consisting of rotary disks, having mold-faces,and means for adjusting said mold faces for varying the thickness of the moldcavity, the adjustable guides for holding the plates longitudinally in position, consisting of rollers journaled upon eccentric bolts, the fixed ejector, and driving mechanism for revolving said frame, and an ingate mounted upon a movable crucible, having a heater; said ingate having a notched dam passing across said mold-cavity, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

8. A casting-machine, consisting of a revolving mold frame, a crucible movably mounted on parallel guides longitudinally positioned with reference to said frame, an annular mold in said frame, an ingate carried by said crucible adapted to register with the mold in said frame, and means for continuously revolving said mold frame and heating the crucible, substantially as described.

9. An apparatus, consisting in combination of a mold-frame, journaled upon a sup port, an annular mold-cavity in said frame, means for adjusting said frame so as to vary the size of the mold-cavity, means for revolv ing said mold-frame, means for injecting the molten metal into said mold and means for ejecting the caststrip from the same, for the purposes specified.

10. Acasting-machine,consistingofamoldframe, journaled upon a support, and having a mold-groove, a crucible movable upon parallel guides toward said frame, a valve-coutrolled ingate, carried by said crucible so as to registerwith said groove, ablade-like ejector passing into the mold-groove, positioned upon and carried by a fixed support so as to eject the cast strip from the groove, the driving means for said frame, and the heater for the crucible, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

11. The combination with a number of adjacent disks, having means for revolving the same, a valve-controlled ingate-block, a dam and an ejector, said parts arranged to form a mold-groove; of longitudinal guide-bars, a crucible carrying said ingate-block and dam,

IIO

movable upon said bars, means for moving said crucible, a pump connected with said crucible and passages leading from said pump and crucible to said ingate-block, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

12. The combination with a strip-metal-casting machine of a number of disks, fastened together and journaled upon a stationary frame, each having an adjoining mold-face, driving means and adjusting mechanism for varying the thickness of the mold, an ejector fixed upon said frame and passing into said mold, a pair of guide-bars, directed longitudinallytoward said disks, acrucible movable upon said guide-bars, carrying an ingateblock and a stop, which project so as to register with and dam said mold-groove when the crucible is forward, a heater for said crucible and a pump for projecting the molten metal from the crucible into the mold; said disks, dam,ingate-block and ejector being so arranged as to form a segmental mold, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

13. In a strip-metal-casting machine, the combination with the carrying-bars of a vertical disk-like frame, journaled upon a support, and having an annular mold-groove within, drive mechanism for said frame, an ejector passing into said groove, carried by said journal support, a crucible movable upon said bars having an ingate-block and stop,registering with and dam m ing said moldgroove when the crucible is forward, mechanism by Which the crucible is moved, a pump having passages connecting said crucible with said ingate-block and a heater adjoining said crucible, for the purposes specified.

14. The combination With the frame, composed of disks journaled togetherand inclosing an annular groove, a segment of which is open, of a movable valve-controlled ingate transverse to said groove,an ejector having a tapering edge intercepting said groove at said opening, a stop, damming said groove adjacent to said ingate, and means for supporting and revolving said frame, for the purposes specified.

15. A casting-machine, consisting in combination of a rcvoluble frame inclosing a mold-cavity,a transverse gate registering withsaid cavity and a notched dam carried by said gate, for the purposes specified.

16. An apparatus, consisting of three or more adjoining disks, journaled upon a stationary frame and having mold-faces so arranged as to form a concentric mold-groove, means for rotating said disks; the crucible having an ingate which registers with said mold-groove and an ejector, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

17. A casting-machine, consisting of three or more disk-like plates, journaled upon a stationary frame and having adjoining moldfaees so arranged as to form a mold-cavity, means for revolving said plates, a relativelyfixed ejector, and an ingate, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

18. Astrip-metal-casting machine, consisting of an annular mold journaled upon a frame, an ingate for receiving the molten metal into the mold, and an ejector for ejectingthe cast strip out of the mold; in combination with an adjustable mold-frame, composed of adjoining disk-like plates concentrically journaled and having adjusting mechanism, and means for revolving said moldframe, as shown, and for the purposes specified.

19. In an apparatus for casting metal into strips, the combination of an annular mold E, having an opening K; the crucible F; an ingate 77, registering with said mold and connecting with said crucible; a valve 78, controlling said ingate; the operating means for rotating said mold, and the ejector H, having the inclined edge 89 in saidmold for guiding or ejecting the cast strip from the mold.

20. The combination of a revoluble frame D, having an annular groove or mold, of the means for rotating said frame; the heater I; the crucible F; the ingate 77 leading from said crucible and registering with said groove or mold; the valve for opening and closing said ingate; the stop 83, means for heating said stop, and the fixed ejector I-I, havingatapering edge in said mold for guiding and ejecting the cast strip, for the purposes specified.

21. A casting-machine, consisting of a rotary mold-frame, composed of vertical disks longitudinally adjacent and journaled together, having faces so arranged as to form a mold-groove, an ingate entering the side of the mold-groove, a passage-way leading out of said mold-groove, and an ejector positioned in said passage-way, for the purposes specified.

22. The combination with a mold,supported by and journaled to a stationary frame, having an annular mold-groove therein, ofa movable crucible having an ingate, adapted to register With said mold-groove; means for forcing molten metal from said crucible into the side of said mold; heaters adjoining said crucible, ingate and mold, an ejector; said mold having a suitable passage-way for the solidified product in which said ejector is located, and means for revolving said mold, for the purposes specified.

23. Acasting-machine,consistingofaframe of disks 6, 19 and 27, so arranged as to form the mold cavity E, having a place of egress K for the cast strip and increasing in thickness toward said place from the place of in-- gress of the molten metal into the mold-cavity; said disks being journaled upon a fixed frame and having means of adjustment, a crucible F, an ingate-block G, carried by said crucible, having dam 83, said ingate-block and dam being positioned so as to register with said mold-cavity, a pump carried by said crucible for projecting the molten metalinto In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of May, 1899.

CYRUS C. WEBSTER.

Vitnesses:

H. L. I'IASEY, JOHN BRANDTJEN. 

